By Hassan Zaggi
Recently, KNCV Nigeria flagged-off the use of Wellness on Keke (WoK) for the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) in Anambra and Kano states.
KNCV is a household in Nigeria as far as the fight against TB is concerned.
The WoK is an initiative aimed at using the popular ‘Keke’ (tricycle) to take the fight against TB and other diseases to the rural populace.
The WoK initiative is funded by USAID under the KNCV Nigeria GloVax Project and drives access to TB and other chronic diseases screening (Hypertension and Diabetes) to the hard to reach communities.
Each WoK comes fitted with a TB LAMP and portable digital X-ray with artificial intelligence for on the spot TB diagnosis and COVID -19 vaccination cold boxes.
The WoK initiative is different from the Wellness on Wheels (WoW) trucks earlier introduced by the KNCV meant to provide quick diagnosis and state-of-the-art treatment to patients stricken with TB in the most vulnerable communities in the country.
States like Ogun and Kaduna among many others already have many WoW trucks which have proved very useful not only in the fight against TB, but also helped in the fight against COVID-19.
Considering that TB is mostly the disease of the poor, the introduction of the use of keke to reach to almost unreached settlements across Anambra and states is not only commendable but timely.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony which took place at the Eke-Awka Market Hall, the Executive Director, KNCV Nigeria, Dr Bethrand Odume, applauded the Anambra state government for the support since the start of its TB projects in the state.
“Just recently, KNCV received another global grant from USAID to scale up COVID-19 vaccination across seven states in Nigeria of which Anambra State is inclusive.
“In most of our interventions, Anambra State has been prioritised because of the relationship and result received since the start of the global and TB long project.
“Now, the package we have here is called Wellness On Keke (WOK). It is a local initiative concept by KNCV with funding from USAID to enable us deliver adequate healthcare to people in very hard to reach communities.
“The beauty of this project is that, it could be seen as a one-stop-shop for TB diagnosis, chronic disease screening and COVID-19 vaccination,” Dr. Odume explained.
On his part, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ben Afam Obidike, commended KMCV for the concept which has the capacity to screen other chronic diseases apart from TB.
“I am glad that screening for Diabetes, Hypertension and even COVID-19 vaccination are all integrated into the WOK project and that it is mainly for rural areas.
“It is an aim of the government for Ndi Anambra to have access to adequate healthcare and this project will give people easy access to know their numbers and receive their COVID-19 vaccination while screening for TB.
“It is good that we work closely in the project, to ensure that people benefit from it extensively,” Dr Obidike noted.
The introduction of the WoK is not only timely, but an initiative that will definitely bring the needed improvement in the fight against TB in Nigeria by increasing the case finding. It should be replicated in all parts of the country.
To say that the war against TB in Nigeria needs highly innovative approach, is an understatement. This is because, the case detection effort is slow due to lack of adequate funding.
Findings revealed that Nigeria currently accounts for 4.6% global TB estimates, occupies the 6th position in the global ranking of TB and the first in Africa.
TB incidences in Nigeria currently stands 219 per 100,000 population while treatment success rate is 89 per cent as at 2021.
In 2021, 207,785 cases were notified which is a remarkable improvement from the 2020 which stood at 138,591.
This means that almost additional 70,000 cases were notified in 2021 compared to 2020 while TB mortality rate currently stands at 112000 annually (53/100000 population)
With the current statistics, approximately 13 people die of TB every hour which means 311 people die of TB every day in Nigeria and 112000 annually.
This is a remarkable improvement to the previous data where 18 people were said to die every hour, 432 people die of TB every day and 156,000 people die every year.
It is therefore, important to call on other states governments to key into the WoK initiative. This is the only way to reach residents of hard to reach areas with TB screening services.
The federal government should also look at ways of escalating the initiative by encouraging and supporting the states and local governments to procure the WoK to be distributed to all nooks and crannies of the country.
It is also encouraging to note that USAID team with KNCV Nigeria Management have had an in-depth discussion on gaps along DRTB (Drug resistant TB) pathway and strategies for improving DRTB case finding and case holding in Nigeria.
This is important because experts have since raised the concern that if care is not taken, resistant TB will soon become an epidemic in Nigeria.
Also heart-warming is receipt of a donation of MiniXray with Qure.ai from MiniXray Team, Illinois USA by the KNCV Management. The equipment which is portable digital xray with artificial intelligence will be deployed for targeted community TB case finding.
It is important to stress that for Nigeria to halt the spread of TB and improve TB case finding in the country, every available equipment and strategy must be deployed so as to avert the looming TB epidemic.
Corporate bodies, well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists can also intervene by procuring the WoK for distribution in all parts of the country.
